Immerse draws 250 youth to Asbury Hills
By Rev. Megan Gray
ASBURY HILLS—Anyone who may have harbored reservations about the future of The United Methodist Church in South Carolina need only look to the masterpiece that unfolded at Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat Center last month.
More than 200 high school and middle school students—primarily from South Carolina, with several from Georgia—gathered Nov. 15-17 for Immerse 2024, the annual discipleship retreat presented by South Carolina Ministries with Young People, a ministry of the South Carolina Conference.
Youth from 18 churches gathered for worship, preaching, family groups, educational breakout sessions and fellowship. The retreat’s “Masterpiece” theme was inspired by Ephesians 2:10: “We are God’s masterpiece. God has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things God planned for us.”
The Rev. Laurel Capesius, the director and campus minister of the Wesley Foundation at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, brought the message throughout the retreat. She spoke with clarity about God’s blessings that are upon the youth, the uniqueness they bring to the world and the seriousness of their calling in Jesus Christ.
“You, who might be wondering what makes you special, what makes you loveable, what makes you a masterpiece,” Capesius said. “You are special because you have within you the breath of God. You are loveable because you exist, and you were created to bring joy to others and to feel the joy around you.
“Here on this mountaintop, we are a community of amazing individuals made one in the God of new life, the God of hope for creation, the God of love for this kingdom on earth that is here before us. We are God’s handiwork and God’s masterpiece, sitting in the midst of all the beauty of God’s creation.”
With a total of 250 in attendance, Immerse 2024 was the largest retreat gathering ever hosted by Asbury Hills.
Chris Lynch, a congregational specialist who helps guide youth ministry within the conference, believes the “Masterpiece” theme served as a reminder that “even in the midst of tumultuous times in our church, we are still a reflection of God.
“We saw the fullness of God’s masterpiece in the hearts and lives of all the youth, the youth leaders, and the retreat leaders throughout the weekend,” Lynch said.
Bishop Leonard Fairley, who celebrated communion and led small-group sessions for youth who may be discerning a call to church ministry, called the weekend experience “spiritually awesome.”
“The beauty of Asbury Hills was matched only by the spirit of amazing leaders who poured into this event and into young people in attendance a double portion of God’s Spirit,” Fairley said. “What an inspiring time of worship, learning, adventure and fun. Dawn and I would hang out with these young people any day.
“We left with a deep understanding and sense of hope that the future of The United Methodist Church is in good hands.”
One of the most distinctive parts of the Immerse experience are the “family group” sessions. Family groups consist of youth from different churches, intentionally created to ensure that students meet and connect with youth throughout the connection, not just from their own church.
This opportunity is made possible because adults from each church are willing to lead a group of teenagers who start as strangers but become friends as they share in learning and conversation throughout the weekend.
In small-group breakout sessions, youth had the opportunity to learn about relationships, nontraditional prayer practices, worship leadership, their spiritual type, the work of justice and mercy in the UMC, how to participate in missions and how to become leaders in their local congregations.
The Immerse Design Team reflected on what they called a new energy in South Carolina United Methodism and an obvious hunger for connectionalism. They expressed their appreciation to the conference and to Lynch for allowing the team to dream and then helping it make those dreams become a reality.
The Immerse Design Team includes the Rev. Skipper Brock, Thomas Brooks, the Rev. Maggie Cantey, the Rev. Megan Gray, the Rev. Rachel Headden, the Rev. Brian Humphries, the Rev. Emily Kirby, the Rev. Katie Lesh, Bonnie Riley and J.C. White.
Gray pastors St. Paul UMC, Spartanburg.